CURRENT UPDATES & RESOURCES
October 13, 2023- Posted in Diocese of Jerusalem, Events, Gaza, Healthcare, Israel, Palestine
Ahli Arab Hospital Faces Extreme Challenges Amidst Escalating Gaza Conflict
November 17, 2023 – As the conflict in Gaza unfolds, Ahli Arab Hospital remains at the forefront of the escalating crisis, providing care to current patients despite daily bombardments in Northern Gaza and critical resource shortages. The situation, as of today, is dire, and the Ahli Hospital team faces tremendous risks.
Fighting and shelling continues to plague the areas surrounding Ahli Arab Hospital, yet, the hospital persists in serving its existing patients. The medical staff courageously operates amid extreme, life-threatening circumstances, jeopardizing their lives for the sake of patient care.
Over-Taxed and Under-Resourced Ahli Arab Hospital operates at reduced capacity with increased needs. To address critical shortages of supplies, fuel, food, and medicine, the hospital has forged partnerships with the Palestine Red Crescent Society & The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). However, the reliability of the supply chain remains a significant challenge.
Critical Supply Shortages and Military Presence According to a situation report from the Diocese of Jerusalem, Ahli is the sole functioning hospital in North Gaza. Due to the military presence outside, the hospital is currently unable to admit new cases. The situation on the ground is fluid, and information is challenging to verify.
Broader Impact on Diocese of Jerusalem Institutions The repercussions of the conflict extend beyond Ahli Arab Hospital, affecting all ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem across the Holy Land, either directly or indirectly.
Border Closures and Unpredictable Travel Lead to Soaring Unemployment Rates and Economic Fallout Spikes in settler violence, ongoing artillery exchanges between Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon, and border closures have made travel between Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine difficult to impossible. Because of this, Jerusalem, Israel, and the West Bank are grappling with sharply rising unemployment rates. Palestinian residents of the West Bank and East Jerusalem who work in Israeli firms, tourism, and related sectors are severely impacted, leading to furloughs that directly affect Diocese of Jerusalem schools, centers, and healthcare institutions.
Financial Strain on Families and Institutions Families are unable to cover the costs of school tuition and medical services. Due to the closure and separation of West Bank areas, income generated by Diocese of Jerusalem schools and health institutions has plummeted.
Holy Land Pilgrimages Put on Hold The suspension of Holy Land pilgrimages further compounds the economic challenges faced by Jerusalem and Ramallah. This results in a loss of income, both from guesthouses and St. George’s College, which is crucial for bridging the financial gap in schools and health institutions.
In the face of these challenging circumstances, support and fundraising efforts are paramount to ensure the continued operation of vital diocesan institutions and the well-being of those affected in the Holy Land. As the situation evolves, AFEDJ will continue to provide accurate, relevant, mission-focused updates during the current crisis.
***As a nonsectarian, nonpolitical 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AFEDJ does not engage in explicitly political activities.
AFEDJ offers a resource list on our website of organizations that offer the opportunity to advocate on behalf of vulnerable and displaced people in the Middle East. You may find it here: https://afedj.org/resources/advocacy-organizations/
AHLI HOSPITAL UPDATE & DAMAGE REPORT
SITUATION SNAPSHOT AS OF 10/25/23
October 25, 2023 – On October 7th, a sudden outbreak of conflict in the Holy Land sent shockwaves around the world, resulting in a significant loss of life, injuries, and forced displacements. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the number of those affected has sharply risen, reaching into the tens of thousands due to the significant escalation of hostilities. Among the casualties, innocent civilians, particularly women and children, have become ensnared in the deadly crossfire. Gaza became ground zero for a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions when the region’s supply of food, fuel, electricity, humanitarian aid, and even water was cut off.
On October 14, we learned that Ahli’s Cancer Diagnostic Center was struck by rocket fire, damaging the top two floors of the Ultrasound and Mammography Units and wounding four members of the staff, it became clear that no place in Gaza was safe. Tragically, three days later on October 17, Ahli’s courtyard took a direct missile hit, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of civilians taking refuge there, many of them children.
The attack that claimed so many civilian lives occurred on the same day that Archbishop Hosam Naoum, along with the Patriarchs and Heads of 13 Churches, had set apart as a day of global fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.
UPDATE
On Friday, October 20, AFEDJ staff and Trustees gathered together in Washington D.C. and met with Archbishop Hosam on a Zoom call where we received a status update on Ahli Hospital and the damage it has suffered. The Archbishop confirmed that damage from the October 17 incident was largely concentrated in the area of Ahli’s courtyard. Though the surrounding buildings and chapel suffered some infrastructure damage, no buildings collapsed, and no staff or patients were killed. The hospital force-closed immediately, and all existing patients were evacuated to nearby hospitals.
Two days later, after the bombing of nearby St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza City, the dedicated doctors and staff of Ahli Hospital returned and partially reopened the hospital’s operating theater to minister to those blast victims most critically in need. Their unwavering commitment reflects the resilience of Ahli Hospital staff, and reaffirms its healing mission. Since then, they’ve been working round-the-clock for operational stability despite limited critical resources and the worsening shortage of medical supplies.
The impact of these distressing events is not limited to Gaza alone; it extends throughout the entirety of the Diocese of Jerusalem. All the institutions that we serve have felt the repercussions, either directly or indirectly. Some have suffered closures for safety or accessibility reasons, others are operating at reduced capacity, and a few are facing increased demand for vital services and supplies. The Diocese has never needed your help more than it does right now.
A gift to AFEDJ earmarked for “where the need is greatest” grants the diocese the flexibility and agility needed to respond swiftly to evolving needs and emerging crises. Your support is the lifeline for all of the Diocese of Jerusalem’s humanitarian institutions, providing vital assistance and hope to those in need across the Holy Land—please stand with us today in supporting this crucial mission.
On October 25, 2023, AFEDJ received a Situation Report on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital from the Diocese of Jerusalem. Below are key topics and points:
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION BRIEF
The ongoing escalation in Gaza is resulting in thousands of casualties. According to the situation report from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, as of 3pm on October 24, 5,700 Palestinians have been killed and 16,000+ injured; the majority of those are women and children. There are an estimated 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently in Gaza. 4% of Gaza’s hospitals are non-functioning and 65% of primary healthcare centers are closed. 24 hospitals are in the evacuation zone. The remaining hospitals are operating at 150% or more of their capacities. Hospitals are on the brink of collapse due to shortages of medications, equipment, staff, energy sources, etc.. The destruction of hospitals and health facilities have resulted in the death of thousands and have deprived the wounded of essential life-saving medical interventions.
SITUATION AT AL-AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL / DAMAGE REPORT
Ahli’s staff is currently maintaining an around-the-clock presence at the hospital, providing urgent medical care for those physically injured, with special attention to children who have been significantly traumatized by the violence. Ahli has received elective cases referred by other hospitals that have been overwhelmed beyond reasonable capacity with thousands of injured patients. The Burn Care unit has received hundreds of children with severe burns.
The two air strikes that hit the hospital caused severe damage to the hospital’s ambulance, medical equipment, and diagnostic machines (ultrasound, mammography, ventilation system, an operating theater table, and anesthesia machine). There is also damage to the infrastructure of some of the hospital departments including the diagnostic center, the ventilation system, the ultrasound room, the mammography room, the administration and management offices, the hospital entrance and courtyard, the hospital chapel, the hospital parking area, many windows, the exterior arch, etc.). Moreover, four of the hospital staff who were wounded needed operational surgeries, and some staff lost their homes.
Over the past three weeks, the hospital has provided treatment and medical interventions to thousands of wounded, which consumed much of the hospital’s existing stock of medicine, supplies, fuel, and other critical resources. Thousands of people need psychosocial support to work through trauma. Ahli needs new medical equipment and devices to replace what has been damaged. Supplies are needed for rehabilitation care, prolonged treatment for the burned and wounded, hygiene kits, food and drinking water for patients, staff, and their families. Additional doctors, nurses, and support staff are needed for the round-the-clock shifts. Also needed: renovation of the severely damaged departments, rooms and infrastructure, and a new ambulance to replace the damaged one.
CURRENT RESPONSE AT AL-AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL
Despite the challenges and damage, the hospital staff continues to provide urgent medical care for those physically injured and traumatized. Currently, the surgical team deals mostly with injuries and trauma including abdominal, bone, chest, and soft tissue injuries. Ahli Hospital is receiving hundreds of people, particularly children, at the physical rehabilitation department and expects to receive thousands more within the coming weeks with severe wounds and broken bones. Moreover, Ahli continues to receive new pediatric patients affected by inadequate hygiene, partly because of large amounts of refuse not collected, lack of potable drinking water, and food shortages. As a result, the children present with chest infections, diarrhea, rashes, and scabies. Such admissions have averaged 150 cases per day. Ahli has also opened its doors to family members of the wounded who have no other place to go. The Hospital has become their refuge of last resort.
The Diocese of Jerusalem needs your support. Donate today.
TRAGEDY AT AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL
Hundreds Dead After Ahli Hospital Bombing on Oct 17
At the time of this writing, regretfully, AFEDJ does not have any information on the whereabouts of hospital staff or reports on their safety, nor do we know the extent of the damage to the infrastructure of the hospital. We do know that Director Suhaila Tarazi evacuated South before the attack, and is presumed safe. We will continue to offer updates as we receive confirmed information from the Diocese of Jerusalem.
October 19, 2023 – Ahli Arab Hospital has become another tragic casualty of the Hamas-Israel conflict after suffering a critical attack by an incendiary missile of contested origin on the night of October 17. More than 400 civilians have been killed, according to the Ministry of Health, and others wounded, many of them children who were using Ahli’s “safe sanctuary” as shelter and refuge.
AFEDJ acknowledges the sensitive nature of the details at the heart of this tragedy and the difficulty inherent in reporting on the events during this dark period of heightened emotions. As a non-political, non-sectarian organization, AFEDJ stands by our humanitarian mission and laments this catastrophe that has resulted in the loss of many innocent, civilian lives and caused untold suffering.
Whether a result of accident, failure, or targeted intention does not change the outcome for the victims of this atrocity. Ahli Hospital Director Suhaila Tarazi told AFEDJ “there are no winners in war” just eleven days ago when this conflict began. The carnage and scorched ground at Ahli Hospital serves as a haunting testament to her statement. With heavy hearts, AFEDJ joins the multitudes around the world grieving over this horrendous, senseless tragedy.
The unconscionable, merciless attack that claimed so many civilian lives occurred on the the same day that Archbishop Hosam Naoum, along with the Patriarchs and Heads of 13 Churches, set apart as a day of global fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.
Only hours before the fateful bombing, the children who sought safe shelter at Ahli gathered together in the hospital’s courtyard to sing for peace (“Salaam”) in a moving moment of solidarity and joy amidst the darkness. Just hours later, many were likely killed in the bombing that took the lives of hundreds of innocents, an attack deemed “a crime against humanity” by Archbishop Hosam.
For current updates on Ahli Hospital or any of the many institutions served by AFEDJ in the areas of crisis during this time of conflict, please check our website regularly and click on the banner that says: “Press Resources.” We will provide updates as they become available. At the time of this writing, we have confirmed that all of our other institutional partners throughout the Diocese of Jerusalem are as safe as they can be given the circumstances.
Important Resources:
- Press Conference (10/18) with Archbishop Hosam and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem on Ahli Hospital Tragedy
- OFFICIAL STATEMENT (10/18) from Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem Mourning Civilian Victims of the Massacre in Gaza and Extending Solidarity to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
Watch Bearing Witness Session 2: Healing: Interview with Ahli Hospital’s Leaders, Suhaila Tarazi and Dr. Maher Ayyad; Hear directly from Ahli Hospital leadership as they tell the hospital’s story and discuss the important community role Ahli Hospital holds in this heartfelt video, filmed on location in Gaza City. Find more Ahli Hospital “Bearing Witness” videos here. Contact Program Director Diana Branton at dbranton@afedj.org to learn how to share Bearing Witness with your community. Learn More about Bearing Witness here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Secure donations to support Ahli Hospital may be made online or by check to AFEDJ, 25 Old Kings Highway North, Suite 13, Darien, CT, 06820. AFEDJ ensures that 100% of designated funds go directly to the specified institution. Also, please, PLEASE continue to pray for peace.
ABOUT AHLI HOSPITAL Founded in 1882, Ahli was a Baptist Medical Mission from 1954 to 1982, at which time operations were taken over by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem (1982-present). Ahli Arab Hospital is the oldest hospital and the only Christian hospital in Gaza. A humanitarian organization of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in the center of Gaza City, Ahli is a haven of peace and hope in one of the world’s most troubled areas. Ahli adopts a rights-based approach and provides healthcare regardless of faith, gender, social class or political affiliation. In Arabic, its name means “The Arab People’s Hospital.”
Much more than “just a hospital,” Ahli is a community resource. People from all backgrounds seek Ahli for refuge. When Gazans are desperate for care, sanctuary, aid, or even help with purchasing school supplies for their children, they turn to Ahli knowing that they will be greeted with compassion and empathy. Ahli Hospital extends their ministry of healing beyond their doors, educating and empowering women, providing free transportation for the poor to receive care, and psychosocial support for traumatized children affected by war on the border towns. Exemplifying what it means to “live the Gospel,” Ahli is a sacred sanctuary, a beacon of hope, and a pillar of the community. Ahli is deeply respected throughout Gaza for the compassion, attention, and care they offer to Gaza’s most vulnerable.
ABOUT AFEDJ: Founded in 1988 at the time of the first Intifada, American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) is dedicated to raising financial support for the diocese’s humanitarian ministries – schools, hospitals, and centers for children with disabilities – in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon and raising awareness about these powerful examples of Christian Witness in the Holy Land. A nonpolitical, nonsectarian 501(c)3 organization, AFEDJ’s mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable and displaced people in the region. The values of equity, justice, and respect for the dignity of all are at the heart of their efforts. Learn more at www.afedj.org
Press Contact: Diana Branton, Director of Communications | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | dbranton@afedj.org | 985.664.2973
AHLI HOSPITAL STRUCK BY ROCKET FIRE
October 15, 2023-In a distressing incident on the 14th of October, 2023, Ahli Arab Hospital’s Diagnostic Cancer Treatment Center in Gaza City was struck by rocket fire. The ensuing strike wrought substantial devastation upon the two uppermost floors of the facility, specifically impacting the Ultrasound and Mammography wards. Tragically, this incident resulted in injuries to four dedicated hospital staff members, who are currently under medical care to address their wounds.
Distinguished as the Crown Jewel of Ahli Hospital, the Diagnostic Center plays a pivotal role in the provision of cancer diagnosis, offering a vital preliminary step toward the implementation of diverse treatment modalities, both within the premises of Ahli Hospital and in collaboration with other healthcare facilities.
In this challenging time, we ask you to maintain your unwavering support and prayers for the well-being and safety of the hospital, its resilient staff, and the patients and refugees who seek shelter and care within its walls.
CRISIS AT AHLI ARAB HOSPITAL IN GAZA – DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM SOUNDS URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT
The Israel-Hamas War continues to claim thousands of casualties on both sides; Gaza now Ground Zero for Humanitarian Catastrophe
October 13, 2023–American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ), in partnership with Al Ahli Arab Hospital and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, sound an urgent call for support to ensure Christian-led Ahli Hospital may continue to mount the emergency response necessary to meet the needs of Gaza’s many wounded civilians, today and beyond, whose numbers have topped 6,000 at the time of this writing.
The recent conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to a surge in tension and violence, with both sides experiencing increased hostilities, military exchanges, and thousands of lives lost, resulting in widespread concerns for the safety and well-being of individuals and communities in Gaza and Israel. Hospital Director Suhaila Tarazi has remained in communication with AFEDJ, and continues to deliver heartbreaking updates from Ahli Hospital as she is able. At the time of this writing, she has shared with AFEDJ that the situation on the ground in Gaza is catastrophic and deteriorating rapidly. The region’s entire population is being deprived of electricity, water, fuel supplies, food, medicine, and safe shelter.
According to the United Nations, heavy shelling in Gaza since October 7 has left 423,000 inhabitants displaced, their homes reduced to rubble. Displaced community members are using the United Nation Relief and Work Agency’s (UNRWA) schools as a shelter, though there are no truly safe areas currently in Gaza. Three staff members of Ahli Hospital have lost their homes during the bombardment of the Al Rimal area – among them, Ahli’s Medical Director, Dr. Maher Ayyad. Thankfully, Dr. Ayyad and his two colleagues were at the hospital at the time of the residential bombardment and remain uninjured.
“At this stage, our only hope is in God for a miracle in the midst of this scenery of death.” -Suhaila Tarazi, Director of Ahli Hospital
Ahli’s doctors and nurses continue to work non-stop, persevering in impossible conditions to serve Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians civilians (1.1 million of them children) caught in the crossfire of the war between Hamas and Israel – the maimed, burned, and injured. Every moment is critical. They’ve had to appoint extra staff (doctors, nurses, psychosocial support workers, and technicians), open many more beds, and increase ICU capacity despite dwindling resources. The ongoing crisis demands Ahli’s critical attention and your generous support, as all patients during war are treated at no cost. Humanitarian first, Gaza’s only independent, Christian-led medical facility treats all people 24/7, regardless of gender, race, or religion.
“Many necessary medicines at the hospital are at a zero balance,” lamented Ahli Director Suhaila Tarazi. “The hospital wards at Ahli are full with injured patients. We are trying to help as much as we can. God willing, the State of Israel will open a humanitarian corridor and allow us to save the lives of the innocent. Please keep us in your prayers.”
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate as ongoing, unrelenting attacks continue to cripple hospitals, refugee camps, and shelters. Israel’s order to relocate the 1.1 million people from north to south Gaza, which includes the members of the Diocese of Jerusalem’s Christian communities and Ahli Hospital, will only deepen this crisis, particularly for the many wounded on life support / ventilators.
Please give generously in support of this important humanitarian mission and help Ahli Hospital continue to keep their doors open 24/7 in response to this horrific humanitarian crisis. Your generosity embodies the spirit of compassion and solidarity, demonstrating that even in times of strife, humanity’s collective desire for peace and well-being shines brightly. Donations of any amount allow Ahli Hospital to extend their capacity to treat as many people as they can throughout this crisis.
Secure online donations to support Ahli Hospital may be made at www.afedj.org/give/give-online or by check to AFEDJ, 25 Old Kings Highway North, Suite 13, Darien, CT, 06820.
AFEDJ ensures that 100% of designated funds go directly to the specified institution.
ABOUT AFEDJ: Founded in 1988 at the time of the first Intifada, American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) is dedicated to raising financial support for the diocese’s humanitarian ministries – schools, hospitals, and centers for children with disabilities – in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon and raising awareness about these powerful examples of Christian Witness in the Holy Land. A nonpolitical, nonsectarian 501(c)3 organization, AFEDJ’s mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable and displaced people in the region. The values of equity, justice, and respect for the dignity of all are at the heart of their efforts. Learn more at www.afedj.org
Press Contact: Diana Branton, Director of Communications | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | dbranton@afedj.org | 985.664.2973